Dame Helen Mirren, pictured, picked up a best actress gong for Elizabeth I today, as the British drama romped home at the Emmys.

The show, made by Channel 4 and HBO, won the mini-series category at the awards in Los Angeles.

Jeremy Irons got a supporting actor award for his role in the drama, which also earned a statuette for direction.

Dame Helen, whose Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a mini-series was her third, thanked Channel 4 and HBO for their "incredibly important" contributions and said she wanted most of all to talk about writing.

"Without the writing we can't do it, especially us women," she said.

Richard Curtis' film The Girl In The Cafe won three Emmys - including best made-for-TV movie and best supporting actress in a mini-series or movie for Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald.